Opening Body Awareness Practice
First of all take a few moments now to recall a person, a pet, a place in nature, or an experience you had recently that you truly appreciate. Just one thing you’re your mind naturally migrates to. We’ll take about 10 seconds to let your mind settle on one thing. We’ll come back to this in an expanded version of the gratitude practice a little later. But for now, with your eyes open, take and release three deep breaths. Let your breathing return to normal, and with the next out breath, gently close your eyes. Then feel the weight of your body on the chair, bed, or floor. Finally take a minute to do a body scan: noticing how the body feels as you scan steadily down from the top of the head to the feet, not trying to change anything, just noticing. Close the practice with another deep breath, in and out.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Psalm Portion
(Psalm 118: 5–9)
Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the LORD on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
The LORD is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in mortals.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put confidence in princes.
Words of the Followers Portion
(2 Corinthians 4: 8–10)
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in and out as you devote the next minute to naming your loved ones, presenting them in love before the one who is Love.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Gratitude Practice
Today, identify a person you appreciate, or a beloved pet, or a place in nature, or some recent blessing, big or small: just one object of your appreciation. Then place a hand over your heart, take in and release a nice deep breath, and place your focus on the object of your appreciation for a half a minute or so. Close with another deep breath.
Prayer from the Cloud of Witness
Maria W. Stewart (1803–1879) was a free-born African American who became a teacher, journalist, lecturer, abolitionist, and women’s rights activist. The first known American woman to speak to a mixed audience of men and women, white and black, she was also the first African American woman to make public lectures, as well as to lecture about women’s rights and make a public anti-slavery speech.
O Lord God, as the heavens are high above the earth, so are thy ways above our ways, and thy thoughts above our thoughts. For wise and holy purposes best known to thyself, thou hast seen fit to deprive me of all earthly relatives; but when my father and mother forsook me, then thou did take me up. I desire to thank thee, that I am this day a living witness to testify that thou art a God that will ever vindicate the cause of the poor and needy, and that thou hast always proved thyself to be a friend and father to me. O, continue they loving kindness even unto the end, and when health and strength begin to decay, and I, as it were, draw nigh unto the grace, O then afford me thy heart-cheering presence, and enable me to rely entirely upon thee. Never leave me nor forsake me, but have mercy upon me for thy great name’s sake. And not for myself alone do I ask these blessings, but for all the poor and needy, all widows and fatherless children, and for the stranger in distress; and may they call upon thee in such manner as to be convinced that thou art a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God; and thine shall be the praise, forever. Amen
Benediction
Go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor, you are not alone!